Lampard passes Ashes tickets to 'East End geezers', MCC angry

Star England footballer Frank Lampard was among the celebrities who got tickets for the Ashes Test at Lord's but the Chelsea defender passed them.

Written by Associated Press

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London:

Star England footballer Frank Lampard was among the celebrities who got tickets for the Ashes Test at Lord's but the Chelsea defender passed them to a "couple of East End geezers" leaving the MCC fuming.

According to a report in 'The Times', an irate MCC has complained to Lampard for "abuse of the club's hospitality during the second Test match at Lord's" last week.

MCC gave two tickets meant for Lampard and his father for Friday's play after the footballer requested for them through his agent.

But MCC staffers were surprised to see two men, claiming to be members of the Lampard family, enter box eight, where the Queen was also expected on that day.

According to a senior MCC member, "a couple of East End geezers arrived at the box and did not introduce themselves". "The two men, who eventually said that they were members of Lampard's family, were promptly asked to leave the box by David Batts, the assistant secretary of MCC," the newspaper reported.

"... they would have been ejected from the ground had not another person in the box, who does not sit on the club's committee, taken pity on them and provided them with two seats in the Mound Stand. The Queen had yet to arrive at this point," the report added.

The other guests in box eight included Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Lord Marland, who fought the elections for England and Wales Cricket Board chairmanship against incumbent Giles Clarke.

"We take a dim view of passing tickets on to other people," an MCC spokesman said.

Lampard, apparently, was in Seattle on Chelsea's pre-season tour on the opening day of the Test, that England won.

The newspaper said neither Lampard's agent Steve Kutner nor his father commented on the matter.